‘Ways to Work’ helps low-income San Mateo County parents buy cars

Shobna Dhewant, director of the Ways to Work Loan Program, e-mailed me recently to say the goal is to help low-income families, who might otherwise have trouble obtaining financing, get car loans of up to $4,000, payable over two years at a fixed rate of 4 percent. The program will also pay up to $500 for the first six months of insurance.

To qualify an applicant must be a low-income parent who lives and/or works in San Mateo County, can demonstrate the ability to repay and has not had a bankruptcy or repossession within the last 12 months.

Other conditions or exceptions may apply. For toll-free information in English or Spanish call 1-877-939-5363 extension 4100, or email waystowork@fssm.org.

KGO Television produced and wrote a heart-warming segment about how the program helped one single-mom improve her family’s lot.

The program in San Mateo is an offshoot of Ways to Work, Inc., a Community Development Financial Institution based in Milwaukee that sponsors similar efforts nationwide. Dhewant said the Peninsula program is the only one of its kind in California. Details about how to join the program are available on the national organization’s Web site.